Fiber-cleaning machine



E. O. WORRICK. FIBER CLEANING MACHINE} APPLICATION FILED JULY22, 1916.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, I916.

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Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

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E. 0. woamck. FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, I9I6. Patented Mar ELMER o. WORRICK, or D'AEYT, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

FIBER-CLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed July 22, 1916.

To all'whom it mag concern: I

Be it known that I, ELMER O. WORRIGK,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Daet, in the county of Ambos Camarines, Philippine- Islands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fiber- Cleaning Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will on able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fiber cleaning machines, and more particularly to a machine for cleaning the fiber of the aba ca plant from which is made what is commercially known as Manila hemp.

()ne of the objects of this invention is the I provision of a machine provided. with means for feeding the stalks of the abaca plant slowly through the machine in a transverse direction, andthe provision of a plurality of alined cleaning devices of differentdegrees of fineness for consecutively engaging the stalks as the same pass through the machine.

Another object is the provision of means for preventing the lateral displacement of the cleaning devices due to such tendency occasioned by the stalks during their trans verse movement through the machine.

A. still further object is the provision of novel means for anti-frictionally mounting the carriers for the cleaning devices and the gripping means for feeding the stalks through the machine. V

A. still further object is the provision of means for adjustably mounting the cleaning devices for insuring their proper coaction with each other.

And a still further object is the provision of a novel form of frame for mounting and suspending the operating devices therein and p the novel means for driving the operating devices at relatively different rates of speed.

These and other objects will-more fully appear as the nature of the invention is more clearly understood from the following specification, the subject matter of the claims. and the several views illustrated in the accompa,nyingdrawings. in which:

Figure 1 is an. elevation of the upper porti on of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the lower portion of the machine in its operative position to Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a section online 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 30, 1920- Serial No. 110,650.

through the machine on line -l-t of Fig. 2

looking in thedirection of the arrows.

F ig. 5 is a front view of aportion of one of the knife carrying bars showing one of the knife casings mounted thereon with the front wall of the casing removed and its overlapping flange shown in section for illustrating the detail construction of the knife casing and the manner for resiliently and adjustably mounting the knife therein.

Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the knife carrying bars, partly broken away and shown in section, showing the detail construction of the knife casing and knife and the manner of mounting the same upon the knife carrying bar, the anti-friction. rollers and their frame being also shown mounted upon one side of the knife carrying bar.

Fig. 7 is an end view'of the block carrying bars, showing the manner for adjustably mounting the block upon the block carrying bar. and also showing the construction and mounting of the anti-friction rollers and their frame upon one side of-the block carryingbar. I

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 3, showing the detail construction of the clamp employed and the means for anti-frictionally mounting the same in its channel guide way or tracl r.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote correspond ing parts throughout t-he'several views, the main frame consists of the corner posts '1 and the end sills 2, see Fig. 4, which h ve their ends suitably secured to the posts 1.

At the top of the frame are the cross beams 3 and the sectional intermediate beam 4, the opposite ends of the beams 3 and the sectional intermediate beam 4 being connected together by the cross beams5 and 6. Secured upon the beams 3 are the projecting supporting beams 7 and 8 being vertically spaced apart for the purpose to be hereinafter described. and interposed between the opposing ends. of the beams 4 and suitably suitably secured to the beams 23 and 12 and for bracing the beams 3 and 12 to the sills 1 the braces 15, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are employed having their ends suitably secured to the respective beams and sills. The foregoing describes the construction of the main frame of the machine.

Suitably secured upon the top beams 3 are the alined journal brackets 16 having revolubly mounted therein the shaft 17, and suitably secured upon the faces of the lower beams 12 are thealined journal brackets 18 having revolubly iounted therein the lower shaft 19. Suitably secured upon the top beams 3 are the alincd upper journal brackets 20 having revolubly mounted therein the upper shaft 21 parallel with the shaft 17, and suitably secured upon the up per faces of the lower beams 12 are the alined journal brackets havingrevolubly mounted therein the lower shaft Supported upon and extending fron'i the shaft 17 and 19 are two spaced parallel elongated supporting frames, and also supported upon and extending from the shafts 21 and 2 3 are two spaced parallelelongated supporting frames superposed parallel and in spaced relation to the first mentioned supporting frames, and as all of'these frames are identical in construction, a single description and similar reference characters will be employed to describe all of these supporting frames. Each of these frames is formed with the vertical rail 24 provided in its outer face with the continuous groove or channel-way 5, and the opposite rail 26 provided in its outer face with the coneach other as indicated at 30 in Fig,

tinuous groove 27. The rails 2a and 26 are preferably formed rectangular in cross section and are retained in vertical s'raced' parallel relation with each other through the medium of the obliquely disposed con necting and reinforcing strut bars 28 having their ends seal-fed and secured in recesses formed in one side of the rail; 24; and 26 as at 29 and at their intersecting crossing points are oppositely recessed and. set into The ends of the rails 2 1 and 26 are scarfed as at 31 and are suitably secured in similar scarfs formed in the substantially semi circular head having a continuous groove or channcl way 33 formed in its curved face for registration with the grooves or channel ways 25 and 27 of the rails-2d and 26, thus forming a continuous groove or channel way throughout the entire outer surfaces of the respective frames to provide tracks, for the purpose to be hereinafter described, secured upon the inner faces of the respective heads through the medium of the bolts 34, are the flanges of the hubs 36 which loosely embrace the respective shafts 17, 19, 21, and 23, and for preventing lateral movement of the hubs 36 upon the respective shafts the collars. 37 are provided and fixedly secured upon the shafts 17, 19, 21, and 23 by the set screws 38. By so constructing and mounting therespective framesthere is provided two spaced parallel operating frames supported by or suspended upon the lower shafts 17 and 19, and positioned in spaced relation to and in vertical alinement with them are two transversely spaced parallel operating frames supported by or suspended upon the upper and lower shafts 21 and 2 5, and these frames constitute the operating frames suspended within the main supporting frame. p

Fixedly secured in any suitable manner upon the respective revolving shafts 17 1%, 21, and 23, and interposedbetween the ends of the operating frames and the main supporting frame of themachine are the pul leys 39 having formed in their peripheries a plurality of equispaced transverse notches 40', preferably four in number desired number may be employed, the

notches 40 being consecutively engaged by a plurality of cleats -l-1 suitably secured nally alined lower pulley 39, thus providing two parallel driving belts upon each side of the frame. a r y Suitably secured to the outer faces of the belts 42 of the upper operating frame and extending transversely across from belt to belt are a plurality of scraper carrying bars 43 having secured in their inner surfaces at points remote from their ends theplates 4:4: having revolubly mounted in their ends theanti-frictional and guiderollors 45 for traveling in the groove or traclc25 of the operating frame. The forward edges of the scraper carrying bars 1-8 are formed with the elongated recesses 46 in which are mounted the scraper casings comprising the rearplates 47 provided with the elongated slots 18 formed in their lower end portions, and the front plates a9 provided in their lower end portions with the elongated slots 50 in registrationwith the slots 48 in the rear plates a7, the front plates 49 being :4) and the spacing blocks 53 being secured in assembled relation u Jon the bars d3 through the medium of tie screw bolts 54- although any which pass through the ends of the plates 49 and 47 and the spacing blocks 53 into the scraper carrying bars 43. Within the scraper casings are mounted the scrapers or cleaning devices 55 provided adjacent their ends with the guide pins 56 projecting therethrough and operating in the slots 48 and of the respective plates 47 and 49 of the scraper casings, and bearing upon the edges of the scrapers or cleaning devices is the spring 57 held in operative engagement with the upper edges of the scrapers 55 through the medium of the adjusting screw 58 provided with the head 59, whereby to adjustably maintain the scrapers 55 in outward operative positions, but at the same time permitting the scrapers 55 to move in .vardly within the casings against the force of the spring 57 should the occasion therefor arise. The scraping or cleaning elements 55 are arranged in three transversely-spaced sets, and said elements are disposed transversely of the belts. The first set comprises toothed combs arranged adjacent to those edges of the belts between which the fiber enters. The second or intermediate set comprises knife-edge scrapers for scraping the fiber after it has beenco-mbed, and the third step comprises brushes arranged adjacent to those edges of the belts from be tween which the fibers leave the cleaning means. In this manner, the combs, scrapers and brushes are located to operate on the' fiber in succession as it moves to different positions through the cleaning means where by each operation is distinct from the others, so that the fiber is completely combed, before it is scraped, and it is then completely scraped before it is brushed.

Suitably secured upon. the outer faces of the belts 42 of the operating frame and extending transversely across from belt to belt are a plurality of block carrying bars 60 having also secured in their inner surfaces at points remote from their ends the plates 44, similar to the plates 44 in the scraper carrying bars 43, and also having revolubly mounted in their ends the antifrictional and guide rollers 45 for traveling in the groove or track 25 of the operating frame. The upper forward edges of the block carrying bars 60 are rabbeted as at 61, and mounted within the rabbeted portions 61 of the bars 60 are the operating blocks 62 provided with the elongated slots 63 to provide for the adjustment of the operating blocks 62 upon the screw bolts 64 which pass through the slots 63 of the operating blocks 62 and into the block carrying bars 60 for securing the operating block 62 upon the block carrying bars 60 in their adjusted positions.

The scraper carrying bars 43 and the block carrying bars 60 are so positioned upon the respective belts 42 so that when the bars 43 and 60 are traveling toward the base of themachine along the space between the parallel operating frames .the scrapers or cleaning devices 55 of the bars 43 will engage the surfaces and coact with the operating blocks 62 of the bars 60' and remain in registration with each other throughout their travel therethrough to the base of the machine.

Positioned across the top of the machine, and suitably secured to the supporting beams 7, 8, and 9 as by the screw bolts 65, is the oblong frame 66 having semi-circular ends 67, and formed upon the inner walls of the frame .66 and its ends .67 at substantially their transverse centersis the endless channel 68 having its central portions seated in the recesses 10 in the ends of the intermediate supporting beam 9, the central portion of the walls of the endless channel 68 at the ends 67 of the frame 66 are cut away to provide slots 69 therein. Upon the outer face of the frame 66 and its ends 67 is the outwardly extending track 70 provided with the depending guard flange 71 upon its outer edge, and also upon the outer face of the.

frame 66 and its ends 67 is the outwardly extending opposite track 72 provided with the guard flange 73 upon its outer edge. The tracks 70 and 72 of the frame 66 are suitably spaced apart for the greater portion of their distances to provide a wide track way therebetween, but the tracks 70 and 72 are projected inwardly towardseach other from the points A to B to provide a narrow track way between these points.

Upon the supporting beams 7 and 8 of the machine arethe journal brackets 74 in which is mounted the idler shaft 75 having secured thereon the idler sprocket wheel 76, and also upon the supporting beams 7 and 8 at the opposite end of the machine are similar journal brackets 74 in which is mounted the driving shaft 77 upon which is secured the driven sprocket wheel 78, the projecting end of the driven shaft 77 is mounted in the journal bracket 79 and carries the bevel gear wheel 80 meshing with the beveled pinion 81 secured upon the stub shaft 82 having its ends journaled in the bracket 83 secured upon the cross beam 6 and the journal bracket 84. Upon the outer end of the stub shaft 82 is the sprocket wheel 85 connected by the sprocket chain. 86 to the sprocket wheel 87 secured upon the projecting end of the shaft 21.

Operatively positioned within the channel 68 of the frame 66 is the endless sprocket chain 88 arranged to travel in the channel 68 and engage the operating portions of the sprocket wheels 76 and 78 which project through the slots 69 formed in the curved ends of the channel way 68, and formed upon certain of the links of the sprocket chain88 are the plurality of lugs89 of which clamps adapted to be moved along the track way of the frame 66 by the lugs 89 of the chain 88 coming into contact with the inner ends of the clamps, only one of these clamps,

whowever, being shown for the sake of illustration all of the clamps employed are of similar construction. These clamps comprise the gripping jaw 90 provided with the transverse rib 91 upon its gripping face and adapted to enter the transverse recess 92 formed in the gripping face of the jaw 93, the jaws 90 and 93 are interset into each other at their pivotal points through which passes the pivot pin 94, the jaw 90 being pros vided with the operating arm 95 provided with the spaced apertured lugs 96 between which is pivotally' mounted the antifrictional roller 97, andthe gripping jaw 93 is provided with the operating arm 98 also provided with the spaced apertured lugs 99 between which is pivotally mounted the antifrictional roller 100. Interposed between the operating arms 95 and 98 is the compres sion spring 101 for automatically forcing the operating arms 95 and 98 of the gripping jaws 90 and 93 apart when the clamps are traversing the wide track way of the frame 66 for opening jaws 90 and 93, the spring 101- being sufliciently yieldable to allow the operating arms 95 and 98 to move toward each other for closing the gripping jaws 90 and 93 when the clamps are traversing the narrow track way of the frame 66, the clamps being moved along the respective track ways by the lugs 89 of the chain 88 engaging the lug 102 upon the inner end of the operating arm 95 of the jaw 90, and which overlaps a similar lug 103 formed upon the inner end of the operating arm 98 of the jaw 93, the lugs 102 and 103 being provided for preventing the lugs 89 of the chain 88 from passing between the operating arms 95 and 98 when the clamps are in the wider track way of the frame 66.

Upon the upper face of the beam 12, and between the journal brackets 18 and 22 thereon, is secured the bracket 104; provided with the lower journal bracket 105 in which is revolubly mounted the headed stub shaft 106 of the idler transmission gearwheel 107 meshing with the gear wheel 108 secured upon the projecting end of the lower shaft 1.9 at the base of the main supporting frame, and also upon the bracket 104; is the journal bracket 109 in which is revolubly mounted the headed power shaft 110 upon which is secured the power driven gear wheel 111 which meshes withthe idler transmission gear wheel 107 and also meshes with the gear wheel 112 The power shaft 10 isv driven in any suitable manner for driving the power gear wheel 111 and the idler gear wheel 107 in. the direction of the arrows, which in turn drives the gear wheels 112 and 108 upon the ends of the respective shafts 23 and 19 for revolving the same together with the respective gear pulleys 39 thereon, which gear pulleys 39 through the medium of the connecting belts 4C2 revolves the respective pulleys 39 upon the shafts 17 and 21, the belts 12, the pulleys 39 traveling in the directions indicated by the arrows, and through the medium of the sprocket wheel 87 upon the end of the shaft 21 and the sprocket chain 86 engaging the sprocket wheel for revolving the bevel pinion 81 meshing with the bevel gear 80 upon the driven shaft 77 drives the sprocket 78, the idler sprocket 76 and the conveying sprocket chain 88 in the direction shown by the arrows'in Fig. 3' for moving the clamps transversely across the upper end of the machine, These clamps are so timed that the same moves transversely through the upper end of the machine with respect to the cleaning devices at a ratio of approximately one to twelve, orvin other words the clamps move transversely through the machine one inch while the cleaning devices move longitudinally through the machine twelve inches, this ratio of movements between the clamps and the cleaning devices are preferably for ordinary .purposes but the ratio of movements of the clamps relative to the cleaning devices may be increased or decreased according to the condition of the product to be cleaned by employing a smaller or larger sprocket wheel 87 upon the shaft 21.

The person feeding the machine stands at the end of the frame 66 and as the clamps travel through the wider track Way of the frame 66 their gripping jaws are normally open so that the operator places the butt end of the stalk or stalks of the plant between the gripping jaws which close upon and cleaners until the plants reach the delivery side of the machine, whereby upon the clamps entering the wider track way of the frame 66 the jaws of the clamps will be automatically opened under the action of the compression spring 101 thereby releasing and discharging the cleaned fiber at the delivery side of the machine, the refuse being carried downwardly toward the base of the machine, and by the employment of a large number of these clamps and sufiicient number of lugs 89 upon the conveying chain a continuous stream of plants may be fed through the machine thereby increasing the efficiency and capacity of the machine.

IVhile I have described the cleaners 55 broadly as cleaners I desire it to be understood that I may use any suitable character of cleaners in accordance with the character and condition of the plant from which the fiber is obtained, but for ordinary purposes I prefer to form the cleaner which first engages the plants with coarse teeth at its outer end for drawing the plants into the machine and at the same time to effect the beginning of the cleaning operation, and gradually diminishing to finer teeth at its inner end and next to this cleaner a cleaner consisting of a smooth edge knife and following this cleaner with a cleaner consisting of a brush provided with metallic or other suitable bristles, however, any suitable kind of cleaners may be substituted for the preferred form of cleaners or any of the cleaners may be rearranged to meet with the requirements of the case.

I preferably construct all parts of the machine, excepting those which are necessary to be formed of any suitable metal, of hard wood, but I may construct the entire machine of any suitable form and character of metal, and I may also operate the machine by hand instead of machine power.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a, fiber cleaning machine, an endless trackway, a conveyer chain movable along the trackway, cleaning means movable away from the trackway, and conveyer chain, and

. means for carrying fibrous material with the chain for passage through the cleaning means and gripping said material during the cleaning action, including a pair of pivotally connected jaws movable transversely of the chain having portions guided along the trackway, the conveyer chain having a portion to move the jaws with it, and the trackway being formed to close the jaws when they pass the cleaning means.

2. In a fiber cleaning machine, an endless trackway, a conveyer chain movable along the trackway, cleaning means movable away from the trackway and conveyer chain, and

means for carrying fibrous material with the chain for passage through the cleaning means and gripping said material during the cleaning action, including a pair of pivotally connected jaws movable transversely of the chain having arms working within the trackway, and spring means for separating the jaws, the conveyer chain having a portion to move the jaws with it, and a trackway being formed to swing said arms to close the jaws when they pass the cleaning means.

3. In a fiber cleaning machine, an endless trackway, a conveyer chain movable along the trackway, cleaning means movable away from the trackway and conveyer chain, and means for carrying fibrous material with the chain for passage through the cleaning means and gripping said material during the cleaning action, including a pair of pivotally connected jaws movable transversely of the hain having arms extending within and guided along the trackway, spring means between said arms for separating them within the trackway to separate the jaws, said arms having overlapping lugs, the conveyer chain having a lug toengage one of said lugs to move the jaws with the chain, and the trackway being reduced in width! adjacent to the cleaning means to move said arms toward one another against the tension of the spring means and close the jaws when they pass the cleaning means.

4. In a fiber cleaning machine, a conveyer chain, gripping means movable with the cham for carrying fibrous material with the chain for cleaning action, a pair of belts having adjacent portions movable away from the conveyer chain, and cleaning means carried by said belts including three transversely spaced sets of cleaning elements, that set of elements adjacent to the edges of the belts between which the material enters comprising combs to first engage the material at one position of its movement between the belts, that set of elements intermediate the others comprising knife-edge scrapers to engage the material at an intermediate point, and that set of elements adjacent to those edges of the belts from between which the material passes comprising brushes to brush the material, in order that the combing, scraping and brushing of the material take place at successive positions of the material when moved with the conveyer chain.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

1 ELMER O. WORRICK.

Witnesses 

